La La Land Page #13

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87 OMIT

88 INT. APARTMENT - DAY

We MOVE IN on a laptop. On it a YOUTUBE video plays -- an

interview with Sebastian, Keith and the rest of the band...

89 EXT. RIALTO - DAY

Mia drives by the Rialto theater. It's now CLOSED...

90 INT. SEBASTIAN'S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Mia sits on the floor, penciling out drawings for her play.

Costume and poster sketches scattered by her feet. She's

tired. The clock on the wall reads: 10:54pm.

A90 INT. SEBASTIAN'S APARTMENT - BEDROOM - NIGHT

Mia gets into bed. Checks her phone. Turns off the light.

B90 INT. SEBASTIAN'S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - DAWN

Sebastian enters the apartment. Checks his reflection in the

mirror -- a new addition. The clock reads: 4:57am.

C90 INT. SEBASTIAN'S APARTMENT - BEDROOM - DAWN

Sebastian gets into bed, careful not to wake Mia.

D90 INT. SEBASTIAN'S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - MORNING

Mia crosses through to the kitchen to get herself breakfast,

careful not to wake Sebastian. The clock: 7:02am.

E90 INT. SEBASTIAN'S APARTMENT - BEDROOM - MORNING

Sebastian in bed, fast asleep. And WE RETURN TO...

F90 INT. SEBASTIAN'S APARTMENT - DUSK

...Mia and Sebastian at the piano, before this latest journey

began, finishing their song. The last lyrics resonating as

they look into one another's eyes:

SEBASTIAN MIA

City of stars... You've never shined so

brightly.

Revision 50.

On that -- this image of love, Sebastian playing out the

final chords on his piano -- WE GO DARK.

All sound fades out. And then, we hear --

-- a CROWD CHEERING. [START A FIRE]

We see -- a white spotlight. It reveals Sebastian. We're --

91 INT. THE ECHO - NIGHT

Sebastian is on-stage. He's the only musician we can see. The

floor beyond the stage is FILLED with people.

Among them, we spot Mia -- beaming with pride. Sebastian sees

her, smiles to her as he plays a piano intro. Mia grins right

back, heart swelling...

A SECOND SPOTLIGHT turns on, illuminating Keith. He SINGS. He

has a beautiful voice. Mia bobs her head. It's just Keith and

Sebastian right now, all acoustic, a simple, catchy tune...

And then -- suddenly -- a DRUM MACHINE SURGES IN -- and --

BOOM! The entire CLUB is lit up as the MUSIC EXPLODES. A full-

fledged dance beat and a thick radio-ready electronic track.

Mia is taken aback. But she keeps bobbing her head -- as the

crowd around her GOES CRAZY...

Keith owns the stage, as Sebastian plays out more -- now

switched to an electronic keyboard, complete with synth

sounds. We recognize fragments of melody from when Keith and

Sebastian first rehearsed -- but the tune has been

transformed beyond recognition. Not a hint of jazz...

Keith breaks into the CHORUS -- and a TRIO OF BACKUP SINGERS

are revealed stage-left. The band surges into the song's

bridge -- and BACKUP DANCERS appear stage-right, scantily-

clad.

And then -- the lights go NUTS. It's a full-out LIGHT SHOW

now, shafts of red, blue, green and orange cutting through

the dark. The crowd starts CHEERING, pumping their fists...

Mia looks at Sebastian. He's not fighting any of this. He

sees her. She smiles. But something is changing in her

expression...

She looks at the lights, the singers, the dancers, Sebastian

and his bandmates in matching magazine-cover-ready outfits.

She looks at the crowd around her -- their hollers growing

more and more frenzied as Sebastian launches into a prolonged

SOLO...

Revision 51.

Mia looks back at him, takes it all in: Is this really him...?

As the mass of people swells and moves, Mia finds herself

PUSHED TO THE SIDE, bit by bit, away from the center...

She tries to hold her ground, but is edged FURTHER AND

FURTHER AWAY. Sebastian, deep in his solo, doesn't notice.

Mia tugs against the tide of the crowd, but to no avail.

She's pushed to the back of the club, away from the lights

and into shadow...

The final chorus begins -- floor-shaking, fist-pounding. We

linger on Mia's face -- watching as the band feverishly tear

into their climactic bars, the dancers on-stage and the crowd

below busting out one last burst of CRAZED CHOREOGRAPHY --

ending the song just as we SMASH CUT TO A TITLE CARD OVER

BLACK:

FALL:

Silence.

We take a moment to collect ourselves before --

92 OMIT

93 EXT. / INT. CHINESE RESTAURANT - LOS ANGELES - DAY

CLOSE on Mia. She looks tired. A bit weathered. She's nursing a

green tea across from Laura. They've finished eating.

LAURA:

Look at him -- watch --

Mia glances out the window. A MAN in his early 40's has just

parked, is walking around his car, inspecting it.

LAURA (CONT'D)

Now he's going to check the other window.

Yep, it's closed. Now he's going to check

again. Yep, still closed.

Mia smiles. The MAN enters the restaurant -- greets Mia -- and

kisses Laura. This is HARRY. Her new boyfriend.

HARRY:

Hey. I'm grabbing some pastries, you two

want anything?

MIA:

Thanks Harry, I'm good.

Revision 52.

LAURA:

Same here but I think someone's trying to

break into your car.

Harry rolls his eyes, heads to the front. Laura looks at Mia.

LAURA (CONT'D)

Don't stress about the play. Where's Seb now?

MIA:

I think today's San Diego. I'm not sure...

A moment passes.

LAURA:

You should come over tonight. Harry's

cooking, but don't let that stop you.

(Mia manages a smile; a beat)

What's the matter?

MIA:

Nothing...

LAURA:

You miss him.

MIA:

I guess. I'm adapting.

LAURA:

(nods; then,)

I got used to being alone. Growing up it

was just me and Seb. We only had each other.

MIA:

He told me.

LAURA:

I wasn't looking for anybody. Then I met

Harry and -- we just fit...

(Mia smiles)

You've changed Seb. You know that?

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